Jacket Zipping Aid or JZA

ABSTRACT

The Jacket Zipping Aid 2.0 is a kit of, or a tethered devise, assembled from manufactured parts that when used in a very specific manner will greatly improve the ease of zipping up a coat or jacket zipper by a disable person.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is related to the zipper type fastening device and how the alignment of the two sides of the zipper can be held steady to allow the zipping up of a Jacket zipper. As used in this application, “Jacket” is intended to refer to a garment suitable to be worn by a man and/or a woman. For example, a garment can include an overcoat, a Jacket, a parka, a coat and/or similar types of outerwear. “Jacket” is intended to refer to an “outer garment”.

2. Description of Related Art

For many people who have suffered from a stroke or a terrible accident that has caused them to lose the use of one of their arms or hands many simple daily tasks, like zipping up their jacket, has become a very difficult if not nearly impossible task. Currently the only dressing aid for the zipping up of a jacket zipper is a recent patent US814621482 by Scott Peters who has made a unique magnetic bottom to the separating jacket zipper that will allow for the zipper pin and zipper slider and box to be held together by magnetic force to make it easier to zip. This patented invention helps unite the separating zipper at the bottom but does nothing to help the individual with the needed downward counterforce needed to zip the zipper up. Also, this existing art does not allow an individual with special needs to use their own personal clothing. To use their device a new item of clothing must be purchased that has the magnetic zipper as a feature.

The Jacket Zipping Aid allows for the holding steady of one side of the zipper and acts as the secondary downward counterforce needed to zip up a jacket that has already been purchased and sitting in one's closet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a devise and a process by which a disabled or injured individual can use to stabilize the lower portion of a jacket so that the zipper can be connected together and then more easily zipped up using one hand. This invention allows the individual who needs assistance with dressing, in this case zipping up His or Her jacket, the ability to cause the downward counterforce needed to easily zip up their jacket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 Is a drawing of a jacket with a separating zipper. The circled area in the drawing shows the position of the Invention clipped on to the bottom side of the zipper on the injured side of the body.

FIG. 2 Is a blown-up version of the FIG. 1 area that shows how the uninjured hand, reference 1, can hold the slider portion side of the jacket zipper and insert it into the pin of the zipper on the other side of the jacket when the invention, reference 2 is used holding the jacket steady.

FIG. 3 Is a side view of the invention which is made up of two sections. Reference 1. Is a pre-manufactured alligator clip, plastic version, connected to the reference 2 which is a five-foot-long and ¾″ wide nylon strap.

FIG. 4 is the first step of the process that shows how the invention works. In this FIG. 4 the individual holds the invention in their uninjured hand and flicks open the alligator clip.

FIG. 5 This Fig shows the individual clipping the invention on the side of the zipper on the injured side of the body.

FIG. 6 This FIG shows the individual drops the strap portion of the invention down to the floor and then steps on the strap causing tension and downward counterforce to be use in the zipping process.

FIG. 7 Now with the invention holding the jacket zipper steady the individual inserts the slider portion of the zipper on to the pin.

FIG. 8 Now that the zipper has been connected the individual draws up on the zipper slider and zips up the jacket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Detailed Description of Invention

The Jacket Zipping Aid is a tethered devise, assembled from manufactured parts that when used in a very specific manner will greatly improve the ease of zipping up a coat or jacket zipper by a disable person. FIG. 3 in drawing 1 shows the side view of the invention, a tethered devise consisting of a strap and a clip on one end, that will attach and detach itself from the bottom of a jacket shown in FIG. 1 in drawing 1. A plastic clip is attached to a 5-foot-long nylon strap FIG. 3. This strap has been attached to the clip using a sewing machine back tacking stitch. Once the clip has been sewn on to the strap the invention is ready to be used. The invention is then clipped on to the jacket in a process shown in FIG. 2 drawing 1 and also again in FIG. 5 drawing 2. The invention is first unclipped as shown in FIG. 4 then clipped onto the jacket on the injured side of the body as shown in FIG. 5. Once the invention is clipped on to the jacket the strap portion of the invention is dropped to the floor as shown in FIG. 6. The person then steps onto the strap FIG. 6. Slowly the person moves slightly sideways tightening the slack of the strap that is now connected to the bottom of their coat zipper and being held to the floor buy his or her foot. The tension of the strap begins to tighten. As the tethered strap tightens up it causes the bottom of the zipper, just to the side of the bottom of the zipper, to stand out straight, holding steady. At this point it becomes very easy for the person to insert the other part of the zipper together FIG. 7. Once the pin of the zipper has been placed inside the slider into the bottom box of the zipper the strap that the person is standing on then becomes the downward pulling resistance, or counterforce, that is always needed to start the zipper slider up into the teeth to the desired closed position FIG. 8. Once this has been done the person simply disconnects the clip from the jacket. The person then places the strap and the clip in their pocket until it is needed again. The big advantage to a disable person is that they never have to ask someone to help them zip up their coat for them. They feel the small satisfying sense of accomplishment and personal dignity that comes from doing simple things that they use to always do without giving a thought. 

1. The jacket zipping aid is a tethered device that will allow a one-handed person to more easily zip up a jacket or coat.
 2. When the Jacket Zipping Aid is used, the bottom of the zipper will stabilize allowing the zipper pin to be inserted into the zipper slider and then the zipper box so that the zipping process can begin.
 3. Once the zipper pin has been inserted into the zipper's slider and then into the zipper box and the zipping process begins, the strap portion of the Jacket Zipping Aid, that the person is stepping on, becomes the “extra hand” that gives the necessary downward pulling resistance to allow the zipping up of the jacket to be accomplished. 